Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau

Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau
Agency overview
FormedOctober 1, 1901; 123 years ago (1901-10-01)
Headquarters1 East Main St.
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
43°4′25.676″N 89°22′56.420″W / 43.07379889°N 89.38233889°W / 43.07379889; -89.38233889
Employees60 (2021)[1]
Annual budget$12,440,600 (2021)[1]
Agency executives
  • Richard A. Champagne, Director
  • Cathlene M. Hanaman, Deputy Director
WebsiteOfficial website

The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) is a nonpartisan agency that provides legal advice, legislative drafting services, and public policy research and analysis to the Wisconsin Legislature, and reference services to the legislature, state agencies, and the public.

The LRB staff is responsible for nearly all drafting of legislation in Wisconsin, operating at the request of legislators and state agencies.[2] LRB staff also maintain and update the official Wisconsin statutes and the rules of the legislature. LRB publishes the biennial report of laws passed at each session of the legislature and the biennial report of the state government, the Wisconsin Blue Book. In addition, the LRB operates a legislative library, and provides research and library services to the general public.

The Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Committee on Legislative Organization acts as the governing body overseeing the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau and selects the director, who employs and oversees all bureau staff. The director is Richard A. Champagne.[1][3]

  1. ^ a b c "Units of State Government: Legislature" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2021. pp. 168–169. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0.
  2. ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: 13.92(1)(b)1". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  3. ^ "Legal and Research Staff". Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Retrieved June 22, 2023.